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Inflation in August 1.8 percent

Consumer prices in Croatia were 1.8 percent higher in August compared to the same month last year, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) announced on Tuesday, marking the lowest inflation rate since March 2021.

The DZS published the second estimate of the consumer price index, according to which the inflation rate in August was 1.8 percent compared to August 2023, while compared to the previous month, that is, July of this year, consumer prices remained on average at the same level.

Thus, the DZS confirmed the first estimate published on August 30 regarding the annual inflation trend, while slightly correcting its monthly rate, which in the first estimate was 0.1 percent.

After May’s 3.3 percent, June’s 2.4 percent, and July’s 2.2 percent, inflation continued its trend of slowing down on an annual basis, with the August increase in consumer prices of 1.8 percent being the lowest since March 2021, when it was 1.2 percent.

Restaurant and hotel prices increased by 9.6 percent year-on-year

When viewed according to the main groups of the ECOICOP classification, the highest average increase in consumer prices on an annual basis was recorded in the category of restaurants and hotels, at 9.6 percent. This was followed by education at 5.4 percent, health at 5.1 percent, recreation and culture at 4.8 percent, various goods and services at 4.4 percent, alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 3.2 percent, food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.2 percent, communications at 1.4 percent, and finally, with an increase of 0.8 percent, the categories of clothing and footwear and those of household goods, equipment, and regular household maintenance.

A decline was recorded on an annual basis in two categories, that of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, by 1.3 percent, and transport, by 0.7 percent.

According to the main components of the index (specific aggregates), in the services component, the annual price increase was 5.9 percent. Prices of food, beverages, and tobacco increased by 2.3 percent, and industrial non-food products excluding energy by 0.5 percent. On the other hand, energy prices fell by 3.9 percent, the DZS reported.

Clothing and footwear prices fell by 4.3 percent month-on-month

On a monthly basis, the DZS statistics showed that the highest average increase was in the prices of recreation and culture, by 1.7 percent. Prices in the categories of food and non-alcoholic beverages and restaurants and hotels increased by 0.8 percent each, various goods and services by 0.7 percent, etc.

On the other hand, clothing and footwear prices fell by 4.3 percent, transport by 0.8 percent…

According to the main components of the index, on a monthly basis, price increases were recorded in services, by 0.8 percent, food, beverages, and tobacco, by 0.6 percent. On the other hand, energy prices recorded a decline of 1.1 percent, and in the component of industrial non-food products excluding energy by 0.9 percent, according to DZS data.

HIPC – annual inflation at three percent

The DZS also presents data on inflation measured by the harmonized index of consumer prices (HIPC), which is a comparable measure of inflation with EU countries.

According to this data, prices of goods and services for personal consumption in August were on average 0.1 percent higher compared to July 2024, while compared to August 2023, they increased by three percent.

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